This truly beautiful poem by the Sufi poet known popularly as Rumi is about the creative process and being awake enough to NOTICE our surroundings. What do you think Rumi means by the door being “round and open.” Some students have suggested this is the open eye. What does Rumi mean by being “awake”?
Do you think you live your life more awake or asleep? How does this relate to creativity?
Donāt Go Back to Sleep
For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself.
From within, I couldnāt decide what to do.
Unable to see, I heard my name being called. Then I walked outside.
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Donāt go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Donāt go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the door sill
Where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Donāt go back to sleep.
(From the book Unseen Rain translated by Coleman Barks)
JalÄl ad-DÄ«n Muhammad RÅ«mÄ«, often known by the name RumiĀ (1207-1273), was a 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, and Sufi mystic originally from Greater Khorasan. His work is written primarily in Persian; his work titled Mathnawi is considered one of the greatest poems of the Persian language. The translation here is by American poet Coleman Barks.
